Of miranets and steeples

The Swiss voted 57% in favour of a nation-wide ban on miranets. Only 55% bothered to show up for the polls, but the ban is constitutionalized because all but four cantons voted for it. It’s a tad silly – if the Swiss are worried about maintaining the character of a town, there are town building codes.

On the other hand, while the ban does not also ban mosques, it is a restriction on the freedom of religion and it is religious discrimination. Steeples, spires and other tall, religious architecture isn’t banned. So a Gothic cathedral could be build in Switzerland, assuming it adheres to the town’s building code. Knock the crosses out and replace it with crescents, and viola – you’re breaking federal law.